Research

Global Youth Tobacco Survey reveals increased smoking rates among girls
A study in the February 17th issue of The Lancet examined data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey and found that smoking rates among girls are increasing, rapidly narrowing the gap between boys and girls. The study examined the use of tobacco among teenagers in more than 130 countries. The unexpected increase in cigarette consumption among girls is expected to contribute to a doubling of the death toll from tobacco-related illnesses by the year 2020. Click on the following links for more information: Story 1 and Story 2.
 
Click to access the journal article, "Patterns of global tobacco use in young people and implications for future chronic disease burden in adults,” (free registration necessary). The article will also appear in a regular Lancet print issue in the future.

Survey finds that teenage girls in the U.S. are smoking more than boys
The 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in the past two years, more young women than men started using marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes. Additional findings related to tobacco consumption among youth were as follows:

• Young adults aged 18 to 25 continued to have the highest rate of past month cigarette use (39.5 percent). The rate did not change significantly between 2002 and 2004.
   
• The rate of cigarette use among youths aged 12 to 17 declined from 13.0 percent in 2002 to 11.9 percent in 2004.

Click for more information or to view the report.

Europe is worst area for youth smoking
A study published in The Lancet reveals that Europe has the highest incidence of youth smoking in the world. The global average for persons aged 13-15 who smoke is 8.9%, whereas Europe’s rate is almost 18%. Click for more information.

Youth listen to anti-tobacco messages even when from smoking parents
Researchers have found that even parents who smoke can successfully discourage their children from starting the habit. A three-year study of 776 children and their parents was published in the January issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. It examined a program that helped parents teach their children anti-smoking socialization, which resulted in lowering the likelihood that children would try cigarettes by the sixth grade. Click for more information or to view the abstract.

Effect of prenatal smoking on adolescent smoking
A study has found that there may be a direct link between prenatal smoking and subsequent adolescent smoking by the child. In addition, continued maternal smoking from 5 to 14 years was associated strongly with adolescent smoking. Click to view the abstract.

Epidemiology of smoking behavior among youth examined
An article in the December 2005 issue of the American Journal of Public Health shows that more common factors than unique factors contribute to smoking among youth across both smoking stage and race/ethnicity. Click to view the abstract.

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Florida:
 
Florida senator proposes the return of truth® campaign
The chairman of the Senate Health Care Committee, Senator Burt Saunders, has proposed the restoration of $57.9 million for the successful and edgy anti-smoking program the truth® campaign. After receiving $70 million from the master settlement agreement, the program has been laying dormant, receiving just $1 million in state money each of the last three years. Voters will likely get to decide if they agree with the proposal, which would then take effect in 2007. Click for more information.
 
Students in Nassau County, Florida paid to turn in offenders
Through Florida’s Nassau Alcohol, Crime, and Drug Abatement Coalition, students could earn as much as $100 next school year every time they turn in another student for having drugs, alcohol, weapons, or tobacco on campus. The activity, called “Safe Schools,” must first be approved by the Nassau County School Board. Click for more information.

Georgia:

Former Philip Morris scientist speaks to children in Glynn County, GA
Children in Glynn County, Georgia recently heard the story from Victor DeNoble, a former Philip Morris employee, of how the company that covered up evidence about the addictiveness of nicotine and how he used that information against them. His story was the basis for the movie, “The Insider”. Click for more information.

Hawaii:
 
Hawaii legislature proposes bills to target teens
Even though minors in Hawaii can’t legally purchase tobacco or alcohol, the state legislature would like to put laws in place to provide stiffer penalties. Proposed penalties include an arrest record and a driver's license suspension, which some parents feel is too harsh. Click for more information.

Illinois:
 
Chicago ban on candy-flavored cigarettes repealed
A Chicago City Council committee mistakenly left language in a 2-month old ban on the sale of candy-flavored cigarettes that could be construed to apply to menthol cigarettes as well. The committee has repealed the ban and have plans to craft a new law. Click for more information.

Indiana:
 
City of Harvey, Indiana targets sales to minors
City officials in Harvey, Indiana operated an undercover police sting and found 20 businesses in violation of selling cigarettes or alcohol to minors. Some were fined and repeat offenders were temporarily closed. Click for more information.

Kansas:
 
Kansas lawmaker proposes ban on sale of candy-flavored cigarettes
A Kansas state lawmaker is crafting legislation to ban the sale of candy-flavored cigarettes. The bill has received a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee but hasn't been debated yet. In addition, state tobacco enforcers are working to increase the compliance rate on sales of tobacco to minors. At 62%, Kansas has one of the lowest compliance rates in the nation. However, the rate jumped to 80 percent when $2.3 million was recently spent on a 2-year prevention effort. Click for more information (free registration required).

Massachusetts:
 
Pledge program to prevent underage sales started in Massachusetts
Students at Milford High School in Massachusetts have begun to visit stores that sell tobacco products in order to survey how tobacco products are displayed and advertised. Later, the students return with a contract on which stores can pledge not to sell tobacco products to underage customers. The program is sponsored by the school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions organization. Click for more information.

Minnesota:
 
Tobacco use down among Minnesota students
Tobacco use among Minnesota students in middle school and above has fallen by approximately 25% since 2000, with the largest decreases in those enrolled in grades seven through 10. Click for more information.

Montana:
 
Former spit tobacco user educates students in Montana
Gruen Von Behrens, a 27-year old former spit tobacco user, travels the country to warn young people about the dangers of tobacco use, including the necessity of having 33 surgeries from using spit tobacco since the age of 13. He recently visited students in Montana, sponsored by the National Spit Tobacco Education and the Tobacco-Free Missoula Coalition. Click for more information.

Nevada:
 
Underage tobacco possession bill proposed in Nevada
A state senator in Nevada plans to introduce a bill that will make it illegal for a minor to possess tobacco products. The idea was offered during a discussion about a “Smoke’s Corner” where students meet to smoke during breaks. Click for more information (free registration required). However, at a recent school board association meeting, the proposal received little interest. Click to learn more.

New Jersey:
 
Miss New Jersey speaks to middle school students as part of industry anti-smoking campaign
Miss New Jersey Julie Robenhymer spoke with middle school students about saying no to smoking. Her presentation was sponsored by RJ Reynolds as part of their youth anti-smoking campaign called “Right Decisions, Right Now.” Ms. Robenhymer will make 20 such presentations as part of a contract with RJ Reynolds. Click for more information (free registration required).

New York:
 
Board of Health in Pittsfield, New York to rewrite tobacco regulations
In an effort to reduce teen smoking, the Pittsfield Board of Health plans to rewrite tobacco regulations for city retailers, including a ban of vending machines and a requirement for a permit to sell tobacco. Click for more information.

North Carolina:
 
Sixteen clerks in NC arrested for underage tobacco sales
A total of 16 store clerks in two North Carolina counties have been arrested for selling tobacco to underage customers, as part of the Tobacco Compliance Check Campaign. Clerks are asked to check the age of customers by noting the red border around the edge of licenses owned by teens. Click for more information.

North Dakota:
 
Cigarette consumption down in North Dakota’s middle school students
The number of 7th and 8th graders in North Dakota who smoke cigarettes has decreased, according to the 2005 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The percentage of students who smoked cigarettes on one or more of the 30 days prior to the survey dropped from 20 in 1995 to 9 last year. Click for more information.

Oklahoma:
 
Storyboard contest for youth begins in Oklahoma
Designed to help reduce youth smoking, the third annual Don’t Start Smoking storyboard contest began in Oklahoma among elementary students. They are to produce a 30-second television public service announcement. Click for more information.

Pennsylvania:
 
Pennsylvania teens create anti-smoking ads for television
Middle and high school students from across Montgomery County are producing television commercials designed to keep their peers from smoking. Click for more information.

Breakfast Club formed to prevent smoking among Pennsylvania middle school students
Troubled by friends who smoke, a group of students at a McKeesport middle school have started a twice-weekly Breakfast Club to organize activities in their school district. Their town has the highest incidence of tobacco-related pulmonary diseases and deaths in Pennsylvania. Click for more information.

South Carolina:
 
South Carolina Governor signs Youth Tobacco Prevention Act
Governor Sanford has signed the Youth Tobacco Prevention Act, will fine an underage buyer $25 for buying tobacco products and would also impose penalties on those who sell to underage buyers. Click for more information.

Virginia:
 
Virginia youth-smoking prevention campaign director returns
Virginia’s governor appointed the return of the executive director for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation, Ms. Marty Kilgore, after an absence to help her husband campaign for the office of the governor. Click for more information.

Washington:
 
Washington youth campaign generates responses
There have been more than 184,000 visits to the micro Web site www.ashtraymouth.com in the first four months of the Washington Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s new youth campaign, “Kissing a Smoker Is Just as Gross....” The site is referenced prominently in the new campaign, which launched in October with television, radio, and print ads.
 
The micro site has proven to be popular with the 12- to 14-year-old middle school target audience, and visitors continue to average more time exploring the site and even clicking through to www.unfilteredtv.com, the state’s primary youth prevention site. View the ads.
 
For more information, contact Scott Schoengarth at 360-236-3634 or scott.schoengarth@doh.wa.gov.

West Virginia:
 
Raze campaign teaches West Virginia youth how to combat tobacco
As part of the Raze campaign, students from West Virginia area elementary and middle schools came together recently at Huntington’s Douglass Centre to learn about how to organize anti-tobacco events within their schools. Click for more information.
 
Miss West Virginia speaks to children about dangers of tobacco
Miss West Virginia witnessed her grandparents suffer from lung cancer and hopes to encourage children not to start using tobacco. During her reign, she will visit more than 150 schools statewide. Click for more information.

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